By: Nicole Carvalho
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The women's rugby team celebrated Senior Day with a thrilling matchup against Penn State at the DU Turf Field on Saturday, Sept. 20. The first half was a tight battle, but Davenport's resilience and dominance in the second half secured an impressive 42–12 victory.
The match started with adversity for Davenport, as just minutes before kickoff the Panthers lost their captain to an injury and had to quickly regroup. Penn State made it clear they came to compete, applying relentless pressure and forcing back-to-back mistakes from DU. Still, it only took three minutes for sophomore
Tatum Gillihan to break through and score the first try, putting the Panthers ahead 5–0.
Penn State answered quickly with a try and conversion, taking the lead at 7–5. Davenport refused to stay behind as
Marla Aymond powered in for a try to reclaim the lead, followed by strong finishes from
Rachel Wilkie and senior
Kyla Rimpel, who has been a cornerstone of the program for the past four years. At halftime, the Panthers held a 20–7 advantage.
The second half showcased Davenport's endurance and depth.
Kara Higgins made a huge impact, scoring two tries in a row to widen the gap. Playing at eightman, Higgins also took charge of the kicking duties and orchestrated key plays with the forward pack. Not long after,
Addison Foote and
Jean-Marie Gaines capitalized on Penn State's tired defense, each scoring tries to push the Panthers further ahead.
The match closed with a commanding 42–12 victory, marking Davenport's fourth win of the season. The Panthers now shift their focus to their next challenge against Lindenwood on September 27th, traveling to Missouri to face the Lions on their home turf. Stay tuned for livestream details, and join us in wishing the team a safe trip and continued success.
Scores:
